The first steps you take after a Houston truck accident are critical because you may be dealing with injuries while the insurance companies begin investigating what happened. Your health should be your first priority, but the actions you take soon after the crash can also affect a future injury claim.
You do not have to manage the process alone. A local truck accident attorney can explain what information will have an impact and will handle communications with insurers while you focus on treatment. At Fleming Law Accident & Injury Attorneys, we help you understand what to do next and take action to protect important evidence.
After a truck collision in Houston, seeking medical attention should be one of the first actions you take. Some injuries are not obvious right away, but prompt care can create medical records showing when your symptoms began. Follow your doctor’s recommendations and attend follow-up appointments to avoid unnecessary gaps in your care.
It also helps to call the police so the crash is officially on record. A responding officer can document the events and prepare a police report, which may provide useful information when questions about fault arise.
If your condition allows, document the scene before anyone moves the vehicles. Gather the following information when possible:
Ask anyone who witnessed the crash for contact information so you can reach out to them later
Another early action after a truck collision in Houston is to use caution if an insurance adjuster asks for a recorded statement. You should understand your rights before agreeing to give one. The insurer will compare your recorded comments with later medical records or other evidence in order to find something to exploit.
They will likely try to pin fault on you under Texas Civil Practice and Remedies Code § 33.001. If you share responsibility for the accident, a potential jury can reduce your recovery. If your share of fault is greater than 50 percent, the law can bar you from recovering any damages at all.
We can communicate with insurers on your behalf and review the evidence before responding to allegations that you contributed to the accident.
After a commercial truck wreck, it is important that you preserve evidence beyond the crash scene. Trucking companies might possess records that help explain how the collision occurred: driver logs can show how many hours the driver worked or rested, while other records can provide information about the truck’s operation.
Ordinary business practices can cause some trucking evidence to disappear unless your legal team acts to preserve it. Quick action can give your attorneys an opportunity to identify important records and request that the trucking company preserve them.
You also need to be aware of the deadline for filing a lawsuit. Under Tex. Civ. Prac. & Rem. Code § 16.003, you usually have two years from the crash to bring a personal injury lawsuit. Waiting until that deadline approaches can make an investigation more difficult because evidence can disappear and memories can fade, so one of your first actions after a crash should be to call a lawyer.
The first actions you take after a Houston truck accident can affect both your recovery and your ability to pursue compensation. Getting medical care and protecting evidence early can help preserve important information for your claim.
At Fleming Law Accident & Injury Attorneys, we can investigate the crash, preserve trucking records, and communicate with insurance companies while keeping your filing deadline in view. We are available 24/7. Contact us today for a free consultation to discuss your case and next steps.
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